drc in phd full form

PhD Synopsis Writing: 4 questions your committee (RDC/DRC) will definitely ask you

• PhD Synopsis Writing: 4 questions

By Aaron Category : PhD Synopsis

It is important for a PhD candidate to be able to anticipate in advance the kind of questions that will be asked by your committee when you present your  proposal.

Before we go forward to figure out which are the most probable questions, you must know what the main reasons behind conducting a RDC are:

• Whether you understand your thesis topic well or not
• what are the reasons behind your thesis topic selection
• Do you have sufficient knowledge of research methodology to apply in your proposed study?
• Are you passionate enough about doing PhD, that you will sustain all the pressure that will come with it?
• Is there novelty in your research topic to generate substantive contribution in research in the coming times to come?
• Does your topic have the longevity to remain useful and interesting to the research community for a long time to come?

You must remember that a PhD viva is an open book exam. Which means that you can bring any material that you wish to for reference and discussion during the process. Make sure that you carry:

• A copy of your well-written synopsis
• The list of probable questions and the best answers that you have prepared for it
• Some key literature references that you have studies before identifying your research gap
• The proposed or standardized questionnaire, if you have one for your study.

Before we discuss the most probable questions, remember that if the RDC asks you a lot of questions, it does not mean that they doubt your topic or potential or they may reject your synopsis. Their purpose is to brainstorm and take out the best version of your research topic. So you must relax and let your ideas flow out in a spontaneous manner. Make sure you give a patient hearing to each of the questions and answer them succinctly but at the same time analytical and sufficiently inclusive.

Some of the most indispensable questions can be:

• In one sentence, describe what your research topic is all about.
• What is original about your topic? How would you ensure its novelty?
• Explain your research design and the reasons behind choosing it.
• What challenges do you anticipate during the process of your PhD and how prepared are you to combat them?

Sometimes if you don’t understand a specific question, it is okay to seek clarification either directly or by paraphrasing the question in your own words and placing it in front of them as, “Is this what you mean?”

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Research Tips and Infromation

How to Present PhD Progress Report to Doctoral Committee Members in 03 Simple Stages

As I reflect on my journey through the challenges and triumphs of presenting my PhD progress to the doctoral committee, I’m reminded of the invaluable lessons learned and the transformative experiences gained along the way.

1. Diverse Committee Composition: From the outset, the composition of the doctoral committee struck me with its diversity—comprising experts from within and outside my university, each member brought a unique perspective and wealth of knowledge to the table. Their ability to seamlessly map my research problem to their respective domains underscored the richness of their insights and the importance of their feedback in shaping the trajectory of my study.

2. Thorough Preparation: Meticulously crafting my presentation was only the first step. I realized the necessity of thorough preparation, ensuring that each slide effectively communicated my research objectives, methodology, preliminary findings, and future directions. Despite the initial nerves, I remained composed and focused, drawing upon months of dedication and hard work invested in my research.

3. Anticipating Diverse Requests: During one particularly memorable meeting, the committee members had varied requests—one member asked for a demonstration of my work, while another member wanted to delve into the intricacies of my data collection, cleaning, and wrangling process. These diverse requests underscored the importance of being prepared for any eventuality during the presentation, including the need for live demonstrations and detailed explanations of data-related processes.

4. Embracing Constructive Criticism: I welcomed the committee’s feedback with an open mind. Their constructive criticism and encouragement not only bolstered my confidence but also reignited my passion for my work. I learned to recognize the invaluable role of feedback in guiding the next steps of my research journey.

5. Displaying Previous Meeting Observations: One valuable lesson I learned along the way was the importance of displaying and addressing previous committee meeting observations in subsequent presentations. It was during my second presentation that one committee member suggested this approach, highlighting the need to showcase how suggestions were addressed and incorporated into the research progress. From that point onward, I made it a regular practice to include this information in my presentations, ensuring transparency and accountability in my research journey.

In retrospect, each PhD progress presentation was a transformative experience, shaping me into a more resilient, prepared, and adaptable researcher.

As I reflect on the journey of presenting my PhD progress, I invite you to join me in exploring the intricacies of navigating these pivotal meetings. From preparation to presentation, and from feedback to refinement, each step of the journey offers valuable insights into the art and science of doctoral progress presentations.

Introduction

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The PhD Doctoral committee is constituted by the university in which the candidate has registered for PhD. The committe is there   to support and guide the research scholar  till his final thesis is submitted. The committe involves the experts in the domain of the candidate from various universities and research labs. The Committee will evaluate your progress and help to make sure that you are on track to get your dissertation within a reasonable time.

At the beginning of your research, their focus will be on making sure you have defined reasonable and achievable objectives. Later, they will help you decide when it is time to write your thesis. Finally, they will be there at your thesis seminar and defence presentations. Their support as mentors will likely continue as you move on in your career.

Doctoral committee meeting happens usually once in 06 months. Here it is expected that the research scholar has to present his  PhD progress work of the past six months. The meeting should not be felt like an exam. The outcome should be productive advice to you for your future research.

The  Presentation of  PhD Progress Report to Doctoral Committee Members happens in three stages namely: i) Before the meeting:   i.e. Once you start preparing the report for the meeting to till the meeting begins. ii) During the meeting:  i.e. From entering into the meeting hall to  till the meeting gets over and iii) After the meeting:   i.e. From the time meeting concludes to till the next six months before you really start preparing for your next meeting report.

Before the PhD Progress Presentation Meeting

Along with your supervisor go through all the comments given in the previous PhD progress doctoral committee meeting. Discuss in detail with your supervisor the work carried out for the past six months. If any issues are still pending have justification for not addressing or partially addressing those issues.

Do not hide details regarding the implementation and pending issues with your supervisor.  This actually helps the supervisor to defend you and take inputs from the committee members regarding the future course of directions.

A summary of  PhD progress and plans should be prepared and submitted to the  Doctoral committee at least one week prior to the meeting. Make sure that you have gone through the report with all grammatical corrections and plagiarism checks.

Send out the agenda to your committee members beforehand, but also remind them of the topics you want to cover before you begin the presentation. If you have any manuscripts published or accepted send your committee a copy of the same.

You should prepare a  PhD progress presentation (no more than 20 minutes without interruption) that includes a brief background of your research, objectives and the work carried out from the last presentation to till date. Without fail discuss in detail the presentation slides with your supervisor. In your presentation slides list all the previous comments and your response for each committee in the form of a table.

If you are planning to change the title of your work getting consent from the committee members is essential. Have at least    04-05 titles which you and your supervisor feel appropriate beforehand. This will ease the process of changing the title immediately in the meeting and the committee can recommend the same to the university along with regular suggestions.

The best way to ensure that your  PhD progress meeting goes smoothly is to meet individually with each committee member to discuss your results well in advance. If you cannot meet with them in person, share your results ( refer my blog on how to write result section ) over email and ask for their feedback. If there are any disagreements, resolve them before the meeting by speaking with your supervisor to ensure that the meeting goes smoothly.

During the PhD Progress Presentation Meeting

Before the start of the PhD progress presentation give copies of the one-page summary to other faculty members who are attending the session. Submit copies of the complete report to the committee members including your supervisor. No need to present details of any published work. Provide a reprint or preprint, preferably ahead of the meeting. If your work is software based then keep the demo ready. If you do not have a working module then show the video demonstration of the model. This will help the committee members to suggest future directions for your work.

During your PhD progress committee meeting, you should focus on the last six months’ work rather than the background. Only spend as much time on the background as is relevant to what you will be talking about.

There should not be any surprise slides/facts to your supervisor during your committee meeting.

At your first PhD progress Doctoral committee meeting, you will present an outline of your plan for your research. You can build a detailed description of what you plan to do ( literature survey to carry out,  algorithms or theorems to study,  experiments to carry out, software and hardware components to add, systems integration to perform, tests to accomplish ).  The plans can be represented with specific milestones and timelines with a  Gantt Chart .

Example: The sample Gantt chart below shows a set of activities planned for the next few months for the Research work. This can be extended to any length. This chart helps the committee members to know how well the researcher has planned the research activities.

At subsequent PhD progress meetings you should present a brief introduction (one or two slides) to remind the committee of your research area – don’t expect them to recall everything from the last meeting, but no need to go into great detail. Aim to put your work in context.

Show your current working objective in the form of a block diagram. This will set the boundary for the presentation and discussion. This will help the committee members to focus on the specified objective. For example in the figure below the candidate is focusing on the “Wheeled mobile Robot” objective in Robot Path Planning.

Make sure you are comfortable moving back and forth among your slides.  Do not cross the time limit. Add photographs of any field visits for data collection , or conference presentations in your presentation slides. If you had any interactions with domain experts in your area then add interaction details with a date. If you have visited any organization as a resource person relating to your Ph.D. work with your supervisor then add that details.

Seek advice from your committee members during the meeting. Note down all the suggestions by yourself or ask one of your research colleagues to note the same.  This is highly desirable, almost to the point that you should make it mandatory. Give a timeline of your plans. What will you be doing over the next month, and what do you hope to accomplish before your next meeting in the next six months’ time.

Keep additional slides along with your regular slides. Get into additional slides detail if any clarifications are sought on any equations or algorithms etc.

Additional slides can be presented as follows:

i) The equipment details you are planning to purchase or currently using for implementation.

ii) The Algorithms which you have implemented or planning to implement.

iii) The mathematical model you have developed,  or

iv) Any slides that you think are important but do not have time to cover at the end of your presentation.

Here are some tips regarding the presentation, including time management, devices, backup, laptop usage, uploading PowerPoint, video, and audio:

• Practice your presentation beforehand to ensure it fits within the allocated time.
• Use a timer or stopwatch during practice sessions to gauge your pace.
• Be mindful of the time during the actual presentation and make necessary adjustments to stay on track.
• Ensure your laptop or presentation device is in good working condition.
• Carry a backup copy of your presentation on a USB drive or cloud storage.
• Test the compatibility of your presentation files with the equipment at the presentation venue in advance.
• Close any unnecessary applications or notifications on your laptop to avoid distractions.
• Disable sleep mode or screensavers to prevent interruptions during the presentation.
• Familiarize yourself with the laptop’s function keys or shortcuts for adjusting display settings, volume, etc.
• Save your PowerPoint presentation in a compatible format (e.g., PPT or PPTX).
• Verify that all embedded media (images, videos, audio) are properly linked and functional.
• If possible, upload your presentation to the venue’s computer system before the session to avoid last-minute technical issues.
• Check the audio and video components of your presentation beforehand to ensure they work properly.
• If you plan to play a video, ensure it is in a compatible format and smoothly integrated into your presentation.
• Test the sound levels to ensure audibility for everyone in the room.

Additional tips (from personal experience):

• Rehearse your presentation multiple times to build confidence and familiarity with the material.
• Prepare cue cards or key points to refer to if needed, but avoid excessive reliance on them.
• Maintain eye contact with the audience to engage them and convey confidence.
• Speak clearly and project your voice to ensure everyone can hear you.
• Use visual aids and diagrams to enhance understanding and clarify complex concepts.
• Incorporate storytelling or real-life examples to make your presentation more engaging.
• Practice smooth transitions between slides and maintain a logical flow throughout.
• Be prepared to answer questions and engage in discussions following your presentation.

Remember, the more prepared and confident you are, the better you can deliver your presentation effectively.

After the PhD Progress Presentation Meeting

End your  PhD progress committee meeting with a summary of what you have discussed, common points that you have reached and an action plan for the next six months. Your action plan needs to have “actionable” items, specifically what milestones you will work towards after the meeting and approximate timelines.

A written summary of the  PhD progress committee meeting will be prepared by the supervisor and the committee, and that will be sent to the University. You will receive a copy of this and a copy will be placed in your research file.

Send an email note to each of your committee members through your supervisor to thank them for their time, and summarize the action items or milestones you agreed to. This will give your committee members another chance to give you feedback or suggestions.

During the meeting, you might have accepted to complete some implementation before the next meeting, but you may run out of time or you may not get any ideas regarding implementation. In such situations, have a discussion with your supervisor and the committee members and discuss the challenges faced by you. They may either extend the implementation time or ask you to change the methodology of implementation.

Simply do not wait for suggestions from committee members till the next PhD progress presentation meeting. In order to build trust between you and your committee members, you need to take committee members and your supervisor into confidence before taking any major decisions.

In the meeting, the committee might have suggested publishing your work in a quality conference or journal for better citations. Selecting a reputable journal and avoiding predatory conferences and journals is crucial for maximizing the visibility and impact of your research article.

By publishing in a respected journal, you increase the likelihood of attracting a broader and more qualified readership, thus increasing the chances of your article being cited by other researchers. Choosing the right journal involves considering factors such as the journal’s scope, target audience, impact factor, indexing in reputable databases, peer-review process, and overall reputation in the field.

Additionally, it is important to stay vigilant and avoid predatory conferences and journals that may engage in unethical practices or lack rigorous peer-review processes. These predatory outlets may hinder the credibility and recognition of your work. By carefully selecting a reputable journal, you position your research for greater exposure, credibility, and citation potential.

Visit my articles on ” How to identify and avoid predatory conferences and journals ” and “ Identifying Reputable journals for your research paper “. These articles will help you in getting your articles cited by many authors.

Here is an email template which you can communicate to your doctoral committee members in case you fail to keep the deadline or are unable to work on the ideas you proposed. Please take consent from your supervisor before sending any communication to Doctoral Committee members.

Improving both oral presentation and visual presentation skills is crucial for effective communication. To enhance your oral presentation skills, focus on aspects such as clarity, organization, and delivery. Practice speaking clearly, using appropriate tone and volume, and engaging with your audience. Additionally, consider refining your body language, utilizing effective gestures, and maintaining eye contact. For further guidance and resources on honing your oral presentation skills, you may explore reputable platforms and online courses available in this domain.

When it comes to visual presentation skills, it is essential to create visually appealing and impactful slides or visuals. Pay attention to design elements, such as color schemes, fonts, and layout, to ensure coherence and readability. Utilize visuals, such as graphs, charts, and images, to convey information effectively. Incorporate appropriate animations or transitions to enhance the flow and engagement of your presentation. To access valuable tips, techniques, and tools for enhancing your visual presentation skills, you can explore recommended platforms and tutorials available online.

If you are interested in further developing your oral presentation skills, I recommend checking out this comprehensive course on oral presentation skills . It covers essential techniques, strategies, and practical exercises to help you deliver impactful presentations confidently. Likewise, if you want to enhance your visual presentation skills, you may find this resource on v isual presentation design highly beneficial. It provides valuable insights, best practices, and examples to create visually stunning and effective presentations. Feel free to explore these resources to elevate your presentation skills and captivate your audience.

Presenting your PhD progress report to the doctoral committee can be a daunting task, but it is an essential part of your PhD journey. The committee is there to provide guidance and support, ensuring that you are on track to complete your dissertation within a reasonable time. It is crucial to approach the committee meeting with a positive attitude and view it as an opportunity to receive productive advice for your future research.

Remember that the presentation of the progress report to the committee happens in three stages: before, during, and after the meeting. The preparation of the report should be meticulous and thoughtful, and during the meeting, you should be open to constructive feedback and suggestions. After the meeting, you should take note of the committee’s recommendations and use them to shape your future research endeavours.

As you move forward in your career, the support and guidance of the doctoral committee will likely continue to be a valuable resource. By effectively presenting your progress report to the committee, you can make the most of this opportunity and receive the guidance you need to succeed in your PhD program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Objective: Clearly state the objective of your research and the problem you are addressing. Methodology: Provide a brief description of the methodology or approach you are using to conduct your research. Key Findings: Highlight the major findings or results you have obtained so far in your research. Progress Update: Summarize the progress you have made during the past six months, highlighting significant achievements or milestones reached. Challenges: Briefly mention any challenges or obstacles you have encountered in your research and how you are addressing them. Future Plans: Outline your planned next steps and future goals for your research, including anticipated timelines or milestones. Relevance and Impact: Discuss the relevance and potential impact of your research in your field or discipline. Support Needed: Specify any specific support, resources, or expertise you require to further advance your research.

To effectively demonstrate a software-based project during the presentation: Have the demo prepared and functional Show a video demonstration if the software is not available or requires specific conditions Focus on showcasing key features and functionalities Provide context and explain the purpose of the software

Include only the necessary level of detail in the background section of your presentation, focusing on what is directly relevant to your research and the specific objectives you will be discussing. Keep it concise and provide enough context to help the doctoral committee members to understand the significance and motivation of your work without delving into unnecessary details.

Maintain open and regular communication with your supervisor throughout the research process. Share progress updates, challenges, and findings with your supervisor in a timely manner. Discuss any potential issues or deviations from the original plan as soon as they arise. Seek feedback and guidance from your supervisor at various stages of your research. Keep your supervisor informed about any changes in methodology, data, or results. Address any concerns or questions from your supervisor before the committee meeting to align expectations.

The types of questions you can expect from committee members regarding your research plan may include: Clarification questions seeking a deeper understanding of your research objectives, methodology, or proposed experiments. Questions about the theoretical framework or literature review supporting your research. Inquiries about the feasibility and potential limitations of your proposed research. Questions related to the significance and impact of your research in the field. Suggestions for alternative approaches or methodologies to consider. Questions about the expected timeline and milestones for your research. Inquiries about potential ethical considerations or data management strategies. Questions exploring the potential implications and practical applications of your research. Requests for additional details or explanations on specific aspects of your research plan. Questions about the expected contributions of your research to the existing body of knowledge in your field.

When responding to suggestions and feedback given by the committee members during the meeting: Listen actively and attentively to understand the suggestions and feedback. Thank the committee members for their input and valuable insights. Remain open-minded and receptive to different perspectives and ideas. Clarify any points of confusion or seek further clarification, if needed. Acknowledge the validity of the suggestions and show a willingness to consider them. Provide thoughtful responses that demonstrate your understanding of the suggestions. Clearly articulate your rationale if you choose not to implement a specific suggestion. Engage in constructive discussions and ask follow-up questions, if appropriate. Demonstrate your ability to integrate feedback into your research plan or adjust your approach. Express gratitude for the committee members’ support and guidance throughout the process.

Lack of Clear Objectives: If your progress presentation fails to clearly define and articulate the objectives of your research, it may be rejected. The committee expects a clear understanding of what you aim to achieve and the significance of your research goals. Inadequate Progress: Insufficient progress made during the specified period can lead to rejection. The committee expects tangible advancements in your research within the given timeframe. If there is a lack of substantial work or limited progress, they may question the feasibility or dedication to your research. Methodological Issues: If there are flaws in your research methodology or data collection techniques, the committee may reject your progress presentation. It is essential to demonstrate a robust and well-designed research approach that aligns with the requirements of your field. Poor Presentation Skills: Your presentation skills play a crucial role in conveying your research effectively. If your presentation lacks clarity, coherence, or fails to engage the audience, it may lead to rejection. Effective communication and the ability to present complex ideas in a concise and understandable manner are vital. Inadequate Literature Review: A comprehensive literature review is expected in a progress presentation. If your review of existing literature is incomplete, lacks depth, or fails to address relevant studies, your presentation may be rejected. It is essential to showcase a thorough understanding of the existing research and its relationship to your work. Failure to Address Committee Feedback: If you neglect to incorporate previous feedback and suggestions from the committee, it may result in rejection. The committee expects you to demonstrate the ability to reflect on and address their recommendations, showing your commitment to improving your research. Remember, the specific parameters for rejection may vary depending on your academic institution and the expectations set by your doctoral committee. It is crucial to consult your supervisor and committee members for clear guidelines and expectations for your progress presentation.

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What is a research degree committee in PhD?

The committee will recommend the approval of synopsis and candidate’s registration. Provided that if RDC does not recommend a candidate for the registration to Ph.D. program, she/he will resubmit the proposal within a month after due modification as suggested by RDC.

Research Degree Committee

Main task of RDC in PhD

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Overview of the ph.d. program, operational details.

Every candidate has to complete certain requirements during his/her Ph. D. programme as given in thefollowing paragraphs. The process starts with applying for Ph. D. programme of the Institute and getting admitted.

Departmental Research Committee (DRC)

Each Department has a “Departmental Research Committee” (DRC), consisting of Head of Department (HOD) as ex-officio member and Chairperson, and 2 to 6 faculty members, at the level of Assistant Professor or above, who are active in research. The committee is responsible for monitoring research activity in the department. Every candidate has to interact closely with DRC of the department he/she is concerned.

Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC)

For each Ph.D. student, the DRC will recommend a notional thesis supervisor or mentor on the basis of department need and student‟s area of interest. Further, for each Ph.D. student, the DRC will, in consultation with the notional supervisor of the student, appoint two additional members for Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) from the department. For students in interdisciplinary area there can be DAC member(s) from other department/campuses based on topic of research. For aspirant PhD student, one DAC member may be from the Industry/Laboratory/Company the candidate belongs to, while the other DAC member should be from the parent department.

Registration

All the candidates have to register in every semester till the submission of his/her thesis. In the beginning of each semester, all the candidates will sign the registration card confirming their registration for the semester. This card indicates the courses in which he/she is being registered in that particular semester. Registration of on-campus candidates (Full Time and Part Time) will be done by campus based Academic Registration and Counselling (ARC) Division on the day of registration. Semester fee and all other dues are to be cleared before registration in each semester. Under exceptional conditions, a candidate can seek permission for not registering in a particular semester by making an application to the Associate Dean, ARD well before the beginning of semester giving valid reasons for the same. The application has to be recommended by the supervisor(s) and forwarded by DRC of the concerned department.

Duration of Ph. D. programme

A student must submit his thesis within ten semesters (excluding summer terms) to be counted from the semester next to passing the qualifying examination. If the student fails to submit his thesis within stipulated period he may request the respective DRC for extension of time. Such extension for submission of thesis are limited to a maximum of four semesters. Thus, the duration for submitting final thesis (including all extensions and semester withdrawals) are limited to 14 semesters. If a candidate fails to submit his/her final thesis during this period, he/she will be discontinued from the programme. The female candidates who have availed maternity leave during this period may be given one extra semester for thesis submission

Course work

For students admitted with First Degree as highest qualification, the DRC will, in consultation with the student‟s notional supervisor and DAC members, will prescribe course work. The minimum of number of courses shall be six with minimum of 24 units. Candidate should not obtain less than D grade in any course and should have minimum CGPA of 5.50. If less than D grade is obtained, course should berepeated. On obtaining less than D grade in more than one course or CGPA less than 5.50, student shall be discontinued from the programme.

Students admitted with Higher Degree (HD) may also be required to do course work if he is working in different area than his area of HD or having less than 6 courses in his HD. Number of courses will be decided by the Notional Supervisor and DAC members in order to prepare the candidate to undertake research in the chosen area. Number of courses can vary from zero to 6. On successful completion of prescribed course work a Ph.D. student will be eligible to appear in qualifying examination, and can apply for the same to DRC.

Ph. D. Qualifying Examination

Each Ph.D. student must, in consultation with his/her notional supervisor, plan for and prepare to clear qualifying examinations in two areas from the list of qualifying examination areas identified by each department. One of these must be in the sub-discipline in which he/she proposes to undertake research. An application should be made to DRC in the format provided through notional supervisor to appear in the qualifying examination. Qualifying examination will consist of written test followed by an oral test. At the beginning of each semester, the DRC of each department will announce dates in that semester for holding qualifying examination in each of the sub-disciplines. For research sub area click here. For syllabus of qualifying examination, please visit the respective department website.

Topic of Research & Supervisor

Once a Ph.D. student clears the required qualifying examination, he/she, in consultation with his/her notional supervisor and the DAC members, will decide upon the topic, the co-supervisor (if required), submit a research proposal and give a presentation to the DAC members. For preparation of proposal, candidate should carry out a comprehensive literature search, understand the background and scope of research in the particular area of interest. Based upon DAC recommendation, the DRC will recommend for approval of

(i) supervisor (and co-supervisor), (ii) the research topic together with the detailed proposal and its summary, (iii) the research plan, and (iv) place of research work, as per requirement. Dean, ARD in consultation with Doctoral Counselling Committee (DCC) members will grant the approval. At this stage, the student formally becomes eligible to register in the Ph.D. thesis course.

Normally the approval of research proposal has to be obtained within two semesters of passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination. Registration in BITS C799T Ph.D. Thesis (10 units) is permitted only after the approval of Topic of Research and Supervisor.

Semester Work

The operation of the courses in which the candidate is registered has to be carried out as per details outlined in the course handout. The following documents are to be submitted each semester as per schedule indicated in the calendar of events.

1. Plan of work for the semester courses in which the candidate is registered. 2. Mid-Semester evaluation forms and work reports 3. Final semester evaluation forms and work reportsThrough the supervisor(s) and DAC, DRC will monitor progress of the student. At the end of each

semester, grades will be communicated by DRC to Associate Dean, ARD. Non-receipt of evaluation forms and reports by the due dates may result into a `NC‟ (Not Cleared) in the particular course. Award of „NC‟ in two consecutive semesters may debar a student from being on the rolls of Ph.D. students.

Pre-submission draft and Seminar

On completion of research, the Ph.D. student will prepare a draft thesis, and will submit two copies of the same to DRC for preliminary but detailed assessment by DAC members. After assessment, the candidate will give pre-submission seminar in the department where DAC, DRC and other faculty members and students may also be invited. The exact title of the Thesis is also discussed at the time of pre-submission seminar.

Thesis Title Approval

After the pre-submission seminar, candidate will submit a request for title approval to DRC,) for title approval in the required format. The proposed title of the Ph.D. thesis is then approved by the DCC. Thesis submission The candidate can submit his/her Ph.D. thesis once the draft thesis has been approved by the DAC and his title is approved by DCC. The candidate and the Ph D supervisor, will ensure that the thesis is free from plagiarism. An anti-plagiarism software may be used for this purpose. The primary responsibility of any copyright violations in the thesis would remain with the student as the author of the thesis. Thesis along with synopsis and relevant documents are to be submitted to Convener, DRC. The supervisor will also submit a panel of 6-8 examiners in the required format to DRC.

Examination of thesis

Dean ARD will send the thesis with approved examiners to Registrar for necessary communication. The Registrar will communicate with examiners and send the thesis for evaluation. The thesis will be examined by three examiners appointed by the Vice-Chancellor. The supervisor(s), shall be one of the examiners. The examiners will give separate reports, each report concluding with a final and unequivocal verdict on the thesis in terms of only one of the following three alternatives

• The thesis is approved for the viva-voce examination, or
• The thesis requires revision and resubmission, or
• The thesis is rejected.

If the verdicts of the three examiners do not coincide, arrangements will be made to circulate the three reports among all the examiners and, if necessary, to convene a meeting of the three examiners so that they might arrive at unanimous verdict on one of the above three alternatives. When this process yields no unanimity or when the thesis is rejected, the student's registration in the Thesis course for that semester will be cancelled and he will be asked to discontinue from the programme and his/her grade sheet will show DP against the

Thesis course

When a student has been required to revise and resubmit his/her thesis, his/her status will revert to what it was, in all respects, before he submitted his/her thesis but would not alter the original deadline for submission of the thesis. If the current last date of submission of the thesis is considered to be inadequate he must immediately request for extra time from the Doctoral Counselling Committee. The revised thesis should be examined as far as possible by the same team of examiners. On receiving the positive recommendation of the 3 examiners, the Registrar will communicate to Dean ARD for conduct of viva-voce examination.The viva-voce may be held at the respective campus in the presence of the (i) Supervisor, (ii) at least one external examiner, and (iii) Co-supervisor(s), if any. Once viva-voce is held, the final report will be sent to the Registrar for getting approval from Examination committee.

The award of the degree will subsequently be ratified by the Senate.

Change of Supervisor/Topic of Research

A fresh approval of the DCC is required for any changes in topic of research, locale of work and/or supervisor. Candidate has to request through supervisor and DRC for the same. Inter conversion of Full Time Ph D to Part Time

A student admitted as Full Time scholar may be allowed to take transfer to Part time scheme provided-

• Students meet the basic eligibility criteria of Part Time student.
• Student has completed major part of his research work as certified by the supervisor and has completed at least 20 units of Ph D thesis course.
• The concerned Ph D supervisor, co-supervisor and respective DRC agree for such transfer.
• The DRC may also recommend the transfer of a student from Part-Time to Full Time category, provided research positions and stipend are available. Approval for such transfers will be granted by Dean ARD in consultation with DCC.

Minimum academic requirements for continuation

A student will not be permitted to continue in the Institute under any one of the following situations:

• He/ she fails to take or pass the Qualifying Examination within the prescribed time of two semesters(excluding summer term) after the admission.
• His/her CGPA, where applicable, falls below 5.50 and he fails to bring it up to 5.50 within two subsequent semesters;
• He/ she accumulates two consecutive interim 'unsatisfactory' grades in the Thesis course;
• He/ she fails to submit his/her thesis/revised thesis within the time prescribed for him, for such submission (refer 2.16);
• His/her thesis is rejected by the examiners;
• His/her thesis does not receive unanimous final verdict from the examiners as required in clauses 8.30 or 8.32 of academic regulation.
• He/ she receives final grade as „unacceptable‟ in Thesis.

Of the above seven stipulations, the first four, specify the intermediate steps necessitating monitoring for a student before submission of his/her thesis. This monitoring is to be done by the DRC. The last three stipulations specify the events after the submission of the thesis and its examination by the appointed examiners. In these cases, the student will be discontinued from the programme. However, he may appeal to the Dean ARD for reinstatement giving full exposition and justification for the appeal. If the Dean ARD, decides to reinstate such a student, it will give clear instructions and conditions, consistent with overall spirit of the academic regulations that the student must fulfil after reinstatement. The verdict of the Dean ARD shall be final

Fee waiver, Scholarship and leave rules

All students have to pay tuition and other fee as mentioned in Institute Bulletin. A part of tuition fees may be waived for a „Full Time‟ and „Part Time‟ Ph. D students of the Institute. Depending upon availability,fellowship stipend from Institute or sponsored project may be provided to the selected students. A Ph. D. student may also avail his own fellowship from other funding agencies such as CSIR/UGC,etc.

Each “Full- Time” candidate is eligible for 30 days of vacation and 15 days of casual leave in an academic year (August to July). Special casual leave of 15 days is permissible for attendingconferences/workshop/symposiums/training programmes, etc. For female candidates, maternity leave of90 days is permitted.

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Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

An institution of eminence, भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान दिल्ली, hauz khas, new delhi-110016, india.

• For Faculty
• Research Personnel

The success of a faculty member depends also on their students. IIT Delhi is well regarded for its students, but part of the responsibility of a faculty member is to filter in the best of the best. Undergraduate students are admitted solely through an entrance test. These students are exceptionally well prepared. UG students can and do participate in research, sometimes on their own volition, sometimes to build a portfolio, and sometimes to earn design credits. Seek them out. However, the bulk of research assistance comes from PG students. IIT Delhi offers admission to Master’s students and PhD students. In addition to PG student scholarships, post-doctoral fellowships are also offered by the institute. Student and PDF selection is effected by the academic units. Participate in the selection process and seek the best out. Most academic units hold selections at the end of each semester, and you should expect emails about the process. PhD is a long-term commitment to research and a good PhD student will inevitably also help you achieve greater heights. Some academic units also have an MS (research) program, which is a research focused master’s program. You should seek out the details of applicants and recruit the best. The unit’s research committee (DRC/CRC/SRC) or the PhD coordinator should be able to help. Each academic unit has its own policy about how the students and PDFs are assigned to individual faculty members – talk to your head.

Fellowships

Fellowships are also offered directly by the government of India through competitive exams. These can be JRF (Junior Research Fellow) and SRF (Senior Research Fellow). Candidates who have already earned JRF or SRF are treated similarly to institute scholarship in the admission process. On the other hand, some scholarships are also parts of research grants received by faculty members. If a PG student is admitted by an academic unit and placed with a grant for fellowship, it is incumbent upon the student to participate in the research supported by the grant. Note that the grant must have a remaining duration of at least two years for a new PhD student to be funded by it. The sanctioned project must also have a provision for JRF or SRF. Other than PG students, PIs may also hire full-time staff to help carry out the project’s objectives, if provisioned in the budget.

The scholarship of a PhD student is currently up to ₹35,000 per month and that for MS(R) students is ₹12,400 per month (these amounts are revised from time to time). For a student assigned to a project, this scholarship amount is required to be paid from the project’s funds. Unlike many universities in the West, the tuition or medical insurance of the students is covered by the institute.

As a PhD/MS(R) supervisor, you should be aware of student progress milestones like comprehensive examination. proposal evaluation, thesis synopsis presentation, thesis submission, etc. PhD and MS(R) programs require a student research committee (known popularly as SRC) to be formed in the very first semester. This committee is formed by the academic unit’s standing research committee and includes the supervisor and other supporting experts in the area of the thesis. SRC oversees the progress of the thesis. It does not have a research supervisory role, but the student is expected to meet this committee once a semester.

Hiring Research Staff

Many faculty members initially hire prospective students as project staff. If they are satisfied with the work, the staff member can be encouraged to apply for full time or PhD or MS(R) if they satisfy the minimum requirements. In addition to this, there is a provision to hire research staff on a three-month contract. Many faculty members use this provision to evaluate potential candidates. Excelling candidates may then be encouraged to apply for a longer contract, which follows a broader selection process. (See IRD website website --> Information to Faculty)

Separate from lecture-based courses, most programs require projects. These are listed as courses with 0-0-X structure. Each faculty member usually supervises several student projects each semester. The evaluation of these project courses is done by committees within each academic unit constituted for this purpose. These projects courses are often good vehicles for research.

To foster research & development among UG students, IRD offers summer undergraduate research award (SURA) to UG students after their second year under faculty supervision. Look out for students interested in SURA and for emails about it sent by the IRD unit around March. There are other summer fellowships offered by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS) with summer research fellowships through which undergraduates can be engaged for research over the summer vacation. (See IRD website --> Information to Students.)

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How can one differentiate between Dr. (PhD) and Dr. (MD or DO)?

Reading the question posted here left me with a more general question:

Given the professional title and name: Dr. (First Name)(Last Name), is there some way to differentiate between the holder of a philosophical doctorate and a medical doctor? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for a PhD holder to have the title (First Name)(Last Name), PhD?

14 Answers 14

You can't immediately tell from the title, but then titles are not typically used by an individual to broadcast their occupation - we don't have variants of "Mr" for plumbers, bank managers, or rock stars - despite their very different occupations. Rather, the title is to be used by others when addressing that individual, in order to signify a degree of respect, typically for a particular level of training, qualification and responsibility, or else for a particularly respected position in society. Even the term "mister" is a meaningful sign of respect that historically would not have been as widely applied as it is today - the ratchet of etiquette has gradually eliminated everything below it.

The actual title "Doctor" means "teacher" (from Latin "doceo", "I teach"). This title is more often more relevant to PhDs than MDs, so you probably have your suggested solution backwards. That said, the solution is really neither necessary nor appropriate. Much like "Master" (from Latin "magister", in this case "teacher"), "Doctor" signifies that an individual has not only gained enough competency to practice in a particular field, but has developed enough expertise to instruct others. An individual who is sufficiently qualified to practice but not teach would historically have been known as a "journeyman", roughly equivalent to "professional".

In short "doctor" refers not to a field of expertise, but rather to a level of expertise.

Incidentally, most UK surgeons drop their title of "Dr" and revert to "Mr" after joining the Royal College of Surgeons. I've heard through a friend of at least one surgeon who reacted quite angrily at being addressed as a mere "Dr", which in such circles, due to a collision between traditional titles and modern medical training, could be unkindly translated as "trainee".

• 2 I think the Mr should be spelled out after joining the Royal College of Surgeons ie. Mr.Smith -> Dr.Smith -> Mister Smith –  user288447 Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 16:34
• 7 @user288447, do you have reference? I can't find anything on that. –  DeveloperInDevelopment Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 16:46
• 2 Unfortunately not, it may just have been convention in one hospital that I was in several years ago. –  user288447 Commented Oct 30, 2014 at 10:31

You can't. That's why there are numerous jokes in English-speaking culture about whether someone addressed as "doctor" is a "real" doctor or not. Medical doctors are supposed to be the "real" ones in the jokes.

• 30 Regarding the jokes, I recently heard introducing a speaker (MD) in a conference "and then he became a real doctor when he did his PhD in...". –  Davidmh Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 12:25
• 8 Also: 'not that kind of doctor' –  Cape Code Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 12:53
• 18 According to peoplefinders.com/search/… , there are 2 people named "Doctor Smith" in the US. Do they have PhDs or MDs? I don't know. Their first name is Doctor. –  emory Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 13:46
• 16 @Emory: Following the example of Major Major , they should enroll in a university and see if a computer error will summarily grant them a doctorate. –  Nate Eldredge Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 14:53
• 6 Ironically, it is neither MD's, nor PhD's that are the true, original " Doctors ", but rather DD's. Though try convincing anyone of that today ... –  RBarryYoung Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 19:15

In the United States, in spoken address, both are called "doctor."

For personal correspondence, both are addressed as "Dr." as with an invitation addressed to "Dr. and Mrs. Smith." (Or maybe "Dr. and Mr. Smith." If they both hold doctorates, it is "Drs. Smith." For a couple with different family names, use "Dr. Smith and Mr. Brown.")

For professional correspondence, both are addressed by name and degree, as "James Smith, M.D." or "Bob Brown, Ph.D."

Since the distinction is only relevant in professional interactions, there really isn't any ambiguity.

If you are speaking to a medical doctor professionally, you will know it by the setting, and you still say "doctor." If you ask for medical advice at a cocktail party because someone was introduced as "doctor" you deserve anything you get! I've been known to say, "I'm a college teacher type doctor, not a take-off-your-clothes doctor." That usually sends the message and often gets a laugh.

• 2 I am not a medical doctor, but I often work in hospital settings interacting with both patients and medical doctors so the setting is not always informative. –  StrongBad Commented Oct 31, 2014 at 11:36
• 3 I know a microbiologist and a physicist who work in a hospital. Their degrees appear on their ID badges, as do those of medical doctors. –  Bob Brown Commented Oct 31, 2014 at 11:46
• This was edited by "Anonymous" to introduce irrelevant commentary about women taking husbands' names. The commentary on the edit also incorrectly stated that more women than men earn doctorates. In the United States, at least, that is incorrect. From the 2014 SED: "Overall, women earned 46% of all doctorates in 2014." –  Bob Brown Commented Nov 29, 2016 at 14:24

I have seen the difference in the written form of their name;

One is Name Family, PhD. and other one is Name Family MD.

The same applies to the people holding Engineering doctorates such as Name Family, EngD. or holding doctorate in business such as DBA. Also, in different countries there are usually different doctorate titles ( link ) awarded.

But all of these people are called doctors .

• 1 I've seen it for dentists too. Name Family D.D.S –  jonescb Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 16:53
• @jonescb just look at the link provided in the answer, you can see more than twenty doctorate titles for different countries and different majors... –  enthu Commented Oct 29, 2014 at 16:56

A medical practitioner usually holds a MBBS or MD degree or similar and - at a reasonable level of proficiency - membership of a professional body such as the AMA ( American Medical Association) or the RCP ( Royal College of Physicians) or whatever applies in their part of the world.

A holder of an academic doctorate ( PhD, DrPh, EngD etc) has researched a topic or problem within their specific subject in sufficient depth to have generated fresh insights or made a breakthrough or contributed significant new knowledge to the existing corpus.

Both have earned the right to be addressed as 'Dr'.

However, it would appear to me that one or two posters have been watching a few too many episodes of 'The Big Bang Theory' as I think the need to differentiate between the two very rarely applies except in a medical emergency.

• 1 In hospital settings where patients may be interacting with both medical doctors and academics, there is a need to differentiate. –  StrongBad Commented Oct 31, 2014 at 11:37

While both have the title of "doctor," that is identifying the fact that they both have the same education level, a doctorate.

The meaningful difference here is occupation : one might be a professor, the other a physician.

To differentiate between the two you can use the actual doctorate type or the job title:

• My professor is Dr. Jones. (or) Dr. Jones teaches my class.
• My physician is Dr. Smith.
• Indiana Jones, Ph.D.
• Joe Smith, M.D.

Of course a physician could also be a professor (who teaches in medical school?), or an M.D. might be a researcher who does not treat patients as their primary means of income (i.e. they only deal with patients during the course of medical studies). I do not think you can do much about those cases.

In Germany, it is common to denote the subject area the doctor was obtained in, such as Dr. med. for medical doctors, Dr.-Ing. for engineers, or Dr.-rer-nat. (rerum naturalium) for sciences like chemistry.

The usual practical solution is "ask them."

Doctor means you have a doctorate. Simple as that, a medic can have a doctorate in medicine and thus be a doctor, but if you do not have the degree then you are not a doctor, you can be a surgeon or a licensee of medicine but you are just referred to as doctor out of colloquial use of the title based on historical rots and customs.

There is no difference in spoken address ('Doctor'), but one is a Ph.D. and the other is an M.D.

You can tell from the context, but without the context, you can't. If the context is obviously far removed from anything clinical, such as "Dr. xyz has written a book on archaeology of early Los Angeles", then it's obviously the PhD sense. If it's a clinical setting, including emergencies and simply asking for health advice, basically when someone's health is at stake, then it's obviously the MD sense.

Things can get more ambiguous in biomedical research, because I personally know some MDs (without PhD) doing research instead of practicing medicine, including some molecular biology professors. When a research paper that uses clinical samples says something like, "Samples were obtained after resection from Dr. xyz", then it really can be either MD or PhD or both. Some people in our field have both.

Anyway, I don't make too big a deal out of it because we in California are typically on first name basis outside the clinical setting (this includes medical doctors). When we PhDs and candidates (at least in CA) say "doctor", we also usually mean medical doctors, like in, "Our postdoc health insurance is so bad that I'm terrified of seeing a doctor", where "doctor" obviously doesn't refer to ourselves. Some states, including California, have laws forbidding anyone who is not a medical doctor to advertise themselves as Dr. something in order not to confuse patients.

The confusing aspect is that doctor connotes medical treatment to most people, not a doctoral degree. Anyone smart enough to have a PhD knows the difference. I would not want a PhD doing my surgery, nor an MD teaching me philosophy.

It's not an easy question to answer. Ph.D's who are professors are just called "professor," and research assistants with a Ph.D are called "doctor" by secretaries and students. Titles are never mentioned in academic papers.

It's different with doctors: Patients and nurses call them "doctor;" if they are also professors, which they often are, the are called "professor" since professors have a higher status than mere M.D.s, and when they write papers in medical journals they put M.D. after their names. When practitioners without an M.D. refer to themselves as "doctor" they are just called "frauds."

Things are much more interesting in Germany. I was treated there by a woman doctor in a University Hospital who was also a professor of medicine. Her title was Frau Dr. Med, Dr. Professor Mueller. Some Professors have three degrees, meaning that are called Herr (or Frau) Dr. Dr. Dr. Professor.

• I have never heard medical school Professors introduce themselves to patients as Professor. In the UK holders of a Bachelors in Medical Science (BMedSci) call themselves doctor and it is not fraud. –  StrongBad Commented Oct 31, 2014 at 11:41
• Titles are never mentioned in academic papers — ...in some disciplines. In others, they are mentioned quite prominently. –  JeffE Commented Apr 25, 2015 at 3:43

In French (maybe other latin countries too), but I don't know about English, you can make a small difference by adding ès : Albert Einstein, Docteur ès Physique.

Then twice in a row you have specified that he was a scientific doctor (not a medical one) and his field of research.

• 2 Hi Rucikir, welcome to Academia.SE. Your answer does not really answer the question. Basically you are explaining how to say Albert Einstein, PhD in French, which is not what the OP is asking. –  earthling Commented Oct 30, 2014 at 10:47
• Well, I just didn't know if it could be used in English, apparently not, so it was irrelevant. Thanks for pointing it out. Sorry. But I'm not the only one to have done that, other answer about the German way. –  Antonin Décimo Commented Oct 31, 2014 at 23:53

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What is the full form of DRC ?

Abbreviation : drc.

• DRC - Data Reduction Center
• DRC - Discrete Rate Command
• DRC - Direct Responsible Charge
• DRC - Departmental Running Costs

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